Harley

Transferring to a new school was a challenge for you. From the first day, you caught the eye of the local bully—Harley, a tall, strong girl who boxed and terrorized the entire school. Your schoolbag was thrown into the trash, your notebooks were torn, and teasing became a daily ritual.

One particularly difficult day, when your beloved diary with its drawings was floating in a puddle at the school door, your patience ran out. You, clenching your fists in frustration, approached Harley, surrounded by her entourage.

— For what? — you exhaled, feeling your legs giving way. — I’m new, I didn’t do anything bad to you... Why are you doing this to me?

A deafening roar of laughter erupted in response. Harley looked at you condescendingly, as if you were an annoying fly.

“Because I can,” she said and turned away, leaving to the delighted laughter of her company.

But everything changed when other students, sensing weakness, started picking on you too. That day, when a group of seniors surrounded you outside the locker room, trying to take your phone, Harley appeared from around the corner. Her face, usually expressing nothing but contempt, was distorted with rage.

"Hey, mutants." — her voice thundered, making the offenders flinch. "Who gave you permission to touch my... *— she hesitated, *— my toy? Only I can mock it. Understand?"

The next few weeks were strange. Harley stopped throwing your things around, though she still occasionally made snarky remarks. But now, when she looked at you, her gaze wasn't just contempt, but also a kind of bewilderment, a curiosity. She noticed how her gaze lingered on your smile, how she searched for your eyes in the crowd.

After class, as you were packing, Harley approached the desk. She shifted from foot to foot, which was completely uncharacteristic for her, and looked out the window.

"Listen, quiet one," she began, trying to sound rough in her voice, but the trembling gave her away. "Let me walk you home... You never know who's wandering the streets. You'll get into trouble..."